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Kidney cancer
Will a stage 1 kidney cancer recurrence occur after nephrectomy?
Stage I kidney cancer generally belongs to early-stage kidney cancer, which usually presents no symptoms and is most often discovered during physical examinations. This is the case for more than 50%-60% of kidney cancers. The examination for kidney cancer also requires a CT scan of the kidney and an enhanced CT scan to confirm the diagnosis. If it is stage I, the cure rate through surgical removal is very high. Surgical operation is the first choice for treating kidney cancer and is recognized as a means to cure kidney cancer. Early-stage kidney cancer can be treated with laparoscopic or traditional open surgery, which involves a radical removal of the kidney. For patients with stage I kidney cancer, the five-year survival rate can reach about 92%. Post-surgery, regular follow-up visits are necessary to check for recurrence, metastasis, and new tumors. After surgery, stage I kidney cancer patients should have follow-up visits every three to six months for the first three years and annually thereafter. Stage I kidney cancer has a chance of being completely cured but also the possibility of recurrence, so regular follow-ups are essential.
Treatment Plans for Renal Cancer
The treatment principles for kidney cancer vary depending on the stage of the cancer. For localized or locally advanced kidney cancer, surgical treatment is primarily used. For advanced kidney cancer, a comprehensive medical treatment approach is mainly used. Surgical treatment is typically the first choice for treating kidney cancer and is currently recognized as a curative method. In early stages, kidney-sparing surgery or radical nephrectomy can be performed using either laparoscopic or open surgery. For mid to late-stage kidney cancer patients, radical nephrectomy is commonly performed as an open surgery. For advanced kidney cancer, treatment primarily involves medical management, which may include surgical removal of the affected kidney. Additionally, treatments can be supplemented with immunotherapy or targeted therapy to improve treatment efficacy. Therefore, different stages of kidney cancer require different treatment plans.
Clinical Manifestations of Renal Cancer
In the early stages of kidney cancer, most patients do not experience any discomfort symptoms, making it difficult to detect. As the tumor progresses to the middle and late stages and increases in size, it can cause symptoms of back pain. If the tumor breaches the renal pelvis, leading to ruptured blood vessels, this condition will be accompanied by obvious gross hematuria, which often appears intermittently and is painless. If the tumor is large, a mass can be felt in the back. If these symptoms arise, it is crucial to promptly visit the hospital's urology department for tests such as ultrasound and CT scans to establish a clear diagnosis. If necessary, active surgical intervention should be considered.
Clinical manifestations of renal cancer
The clinical manifestations and staging of kidney cancer are related to the most common early-stage kidney cancer, late-stage kidney cancer, or metastatic kidney cancer. Generally, early-stage kidney cancer exhibits few clinical symptoms and is often detected during physical examinations, through ultrasonography of the urinary tract, or kidney ultrasonography, where tumors are the most commonly found. Additionally, later stages of kidney cancer often present as swelling pain in the waist area or occasional hematuria. More serious conditions involve feeling a mass in the upper abdomen upon palpation, which is a clinical manifestation. Nowadays, with heightened awareness for health checks, such conditions are generally discovered through these examinations. When major clinical manifestations like hematuria and abdominal masses occur, it indicates that the kidney tumor has already progressed to the mid or late stages.
Is kidney cancer the same as uremia?
Kidney cancer and uremia are two completely different concepts. Kidney cancer refers to the presence of a malignant tumor, which is a malignant lesion in kidney-type tissues. Certain cells in the kidney are in a state of limitless proliferation, continuously replicating to form kidney-like masses, and may cause hematuria, or even squeeze kidney tissues affecting their function. Uremia, on the other hand, refers to long-term chronic damage to the kidneys from various diseases, leading to the destruction of over 90% of kidney tissue, rendering the kidneys unable to excrete metabolic waste. This results in azotemia, electrolyte disorders, and other complications, a state known as uremia. Patients with kidney cancer, if the damage to kidney tissues is not severe, may still have normal kidney function. However, if severe problems occur in both kidneys, kidney cancer could also lead to uremia, although this situation is relatively rare.
Can kidney cancer be diagnosed with a CT scan?
If you have kidney cancer, preoperative examinations, including ultrasound, CT, and even MRI, cannot definitively diagnose the cancer. These preoperative tests primarily provide diagnostic references. To confirm a diagnosis of kidney cancer, a biopsy via renal tumor puncture must be performed, or after surgery, the specimen should be sent for pathological examination to be definitively diagnosed based on the pathology results. This is because the pathology results clarify the type of tumor cells and their grading, making the pathological examination the final and most accurate diagnostic result.
Kidney cancer most commonly metastasizes to which locations?
Kidney cancer clinically tends to metastasize through direct spread, the lymphatic pathway, and the hematogenous pathway. The lymphatic route often involves enlargement of the perirenal lymph nodes or the lymph nodes in the groin or retroperitoneum. Kidney cancer is also prone to metastasize to the lungs, liver, bones, and other parts via the bloodstream. Similarly, kidney cancer can spread to the perirenal area, ureters, bladder, and other parts through direct extension. Once kidney cancer metastasizes to other organs, it is considered to be in the advanced stages clinically, and treatment primarily involves targeted therapy, chemotherapy, and other comprehensive treatment measures, with surgical treatment not being used as the primary anti-tumor treatment. Once kidney cancer has metastasized, the clinical staging is late, and the prognosis for the patients is poor.
Will there be metastasis after kidney cancer removal?
Currently, all malignancies tend to metastasize. Renal cancer is a common malignant tumor of the kidney in the urinary system. Generally, patients might not exhibit any symptoms in the early stages. The most common symptoms are usually back pain and hematuria, and some patients are diagnosed due to an abdominal mass. The primary treatment for renal cancer is surgical intervention, which is considered the preferred method and is believed to be potentially curative. For patients with stage I, II, III, and IV renal cancer, the survival rates decrease progressively. Patients with stage I and II renal cancer should have follow-ups every three to six months for three consecutive years after surgery, and then annually. Patients with stage III and IV renal cancer should have follow-ups every three months for two years post-treatment, then monthly in the third year, and annually thereafter. Early detection of metastasis is crucial for timely treatment. Therefore, even after nephrectomy, renal cancer might recur, and regular follow-ups are essential.
What are the characteristic manifestations of kidney cancer?
Kidney cancer is a type of malignant tumor. Patients with this disease may exhibit some clinical symptoms. Some patients experience dull pain in the lumbar and back area due to the large growth of the tumor, which compresses the renal capsule. As the tumor grows, it may rupture and bleed, causing the patient to have visible blood in the urine. This type of hematuria is often painless and consistent throughout; patients may also feel a mass in the abdomen. In the early stages of kidney cancer, many patients do not exhibit clinical manifestations or discomfort. Therefore, patients often only exhibit the aforementioned clinical symptoms in a more severe state, later in the progression of the disease.
Can kidney cancer patients eat mutton?
Patients with kidney cancer should pay attention to maintaining a balanced intake of nutrients and avoid consuming spicy and stimulating foods, as well as foods that may increase the metabolic burden on the kidneys. It is advisable to minimize or avoid consumption of lamb. Patients should also avoid drinking alcohol, especially strong spirits, and refrain from smoking and eating pickled items or leftover meals, as these may aggravate the cancer condition. It is recommended to eat garlic and consume fruits and vegetables like cucumbers, pears, and peaches, such as apples, pears, and apricots, to increase intake of vitamins and fiber. The daily diet should be light, with an emphasis on high protein intake, including more fish in the diet.